This post describes some of the evolving needs of skin in winter and our suggestions for maintaining skin health naturally. They are all easy to implement and will not require new products to carry you over to spring.
1. Moisturize
In cold, winter months it is important to hydrate your skin often and regularly due to the lack of humidity drying out and stripping skin of its natural oils. Moisturizing helps protect skin from water loss and maintains a healthy barrier from the environment. Dehydrated skin looks dull, feels tight, and flakes and cracks easily which can lead to painful irritations. It is important to choose richer, daily moisturizing serums, butters, and creams with gentle, natural ingredients that will help nourish, hydrate, soothe, and protect skin from uncomfortable dryness, cracking, or irritation. Products made with water, preservatives or alcohol, and synthetic ingredients like colors or fragrances can add to winter irritation and skin dehydration because they do not contain enough emollients to offer long-term protection. Whipped body butters are in their element during winter months and provide excellent hydration to combat dry and dull skin, without leaving a greasy residue. The best time to moisturize is immediately after showering or bathing, while the skin is still warm and damp with residual water to help it spread more easily and increase absorption. There is about a three-minute window from shower to moisturizer for best results. If you wait too long the moisture will disappear from your skin before you can lock it in. A moisturizer in the shower works with the humidity and warmth to deposit a layer of emollients to nourish and soothe dry, itchy skin. Any simple light organic oil like sunflower, grapeseed, or avocado will work. Layering moisturizers by using more than one at a time becomes important this time of year to help the fight against winter dryness. For example, take a warm bath or shower using a natural bath oil and wick off excess water or lightly towel dry (leaving skin a bit wet as you apply your moisturizer). Follow with massaging another moisturizer (an oil or butter) into the skin to seal in all the benefits of the warm shower, leaving skin feeling soft and smooth.
2. Exfoliate
Regularly exfoliating your face and body is important, especially in winter. When skin feels dry and itchy we love to slather on heavy creams, but dry, dull flaky skin usually means a build-up of dead skin cells. Dry, dead skin cells do not need to be moisturized but need to be removed by exfoliation. Exfoliating helps reduce the dry, dull look of winter skin by removing dulling buildup and promoting a healthy cell turnover rate. Exfoliation will brighten your skin and allow your moisturizer to penetrate better. When the skin has less dead skin cells moisturizers will absorb and penetrate more easily, which is the key to radiant skin in the wintertime. Do not forget about your feet! Even though our feet are rarely exposed to the elements in winter, they may be prone to neglect from fall through spring. If not given regular maintenance and nourishment through exfoliation and moisturizing, they can develop calluses and hard, dry skin which can be uncomfortable. Making time for your feet at least three times a week will get them through the winter. Gloves, dry brushes, sponges, and pumice stones are useful for exfoliating, but natural scrubs with salt can stimulate circulation and caffeine may help reduce the appearance of cellulite. You can mix and match any of the following ingredients below, but note that the caffeine in coffee will lose effectiveness when combined with oil.
Natural exfoliating scrub ingredients you may have at home
Finely ground sugar, nuts, oatmeal, or coffee, baking soda, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, brown sugar, sunflower and coconut oils, honey, sea salt, and cocoa powder.
3. Avoid Long, Hot Showers
Hot, steamy showers on a cold winter day seem luxurious and tempting but it is terribly drying and can strip skin of its natural oils, which could be a real problem if your skin is already dry from the winter. If hot water is the only way you can enjoy showers, especially when it is cold outside, be prepared to use extra moisturizers. Hot water can dry your skin similar to the way heated air can. Help your dry winter skin by turning the water temperature down and keeping your showers short, same goes with washing your hands and face. Turning down the temperature does not mean taking a lukewarm or cold shower, but it is important to avoid stripping them of their natural oils and moisturize immediately afterward. Since hands are already on the offense from harsh weather, they are drier and more prone to chapping and if extremely aggravated they can become very raw and sore, especially between fingers and around the nail bed. It may be helpful to use cooler water at the start and end of a shower with warmer water in between to increase overall circulation by stimulating the blood flow in the skin’s capillaries.
4. Use Natural Soaps, Cleansers, and Masks
One of the most common causes of dry skin is the soap you are using. A natural, mild, moisturizing soap is recommended for dry skin, especially during cold weather. Look for soaps with ingredients that do not contain fragrance oils, detergents, or synthetic chemicals to avoid washing off the skin’s naturally protecting oils and exacerbating dry winter skin conditions. Replace any harsher cleansers and toners with gentler, natural versions to ensure you do not strip the skin of its natural oils nor disrupt the natural skin flora that is already overwhelmed by winter climates and dry interiors. In winter, the capillaries on our face constrict due to the cold, causing our facial skin to seem dull and pale, even after a brisk winter walk or other outdoor exercise that can temporarily put color back in our cheeks. Masks are an alternative to exfoliating or cleansing during colder months, and promote winter radiance. Using a nourishing and cleansing mask is ideal as a winter facial, using about once a week. Oil-based formulas are best to protect skin’s natural sebum, and clays are good for pulling impurities to the surface, with the added benefit of gently exfoliating when washing off. Keep in mind the following ingredients when looking for natural cleansers, toners, and masks, that you can also use individually or combine.
Natural facial cleanser ingredients
Milk, honey, cucumber, yogurt, lemon, oatmeal, clay, castile, oils such as coconut, tamanu, and rosehip, and ground herbs, nuts, oats, or rice.
Natural toner ingredients
apple cider vinegar, green tea, hydrosols, witch hazel, lemon juice, and aloe vera.
Natural mask ingredients
Oatmeal, honey, egg, avocado, banana, brown sugar, coconut and olive oils, yogurt, ground coffee, cocoa powder, and milk.
5. Face
Your face is always exposed to the elements. Facial skin differs from skin on the rest of the body in that it is finer, thinner, and provides less protection from environmental stressors, is more prone to water loss, and ages faster than the rest of the body. This is why skin care products that do not irritate your body may irritate your face, causing breakouts, bumps, and congested pores. Avoid using mineral oil or petroleum based products, as they have no beneficial properties whatsoever. In winter, stay away from any facial skin care products that strip away natural facial oils and affect your skin biome. Natural face creams and oils can help regulate sebum production, and even adding a few drops of oil to a facial moisturizer can provide an additional protective layer against harsh cold weather conditions. Although it seems natural to choose a heavier, more oil-rich moisturizer in the winter to aid both our hands and face, and their textures are ideally suited to protecting skin from winter elements, using a hydrating facial serum under your regular winter moisturizer gives your face a nourishing treat that could be used to boost radiance year round. There is no one-size-fits-all serum, which generally targets specific skin issues or types (such as dryness, mature skin, or hyperpigmentation), and provides moisturizing, antioxidant, reparative, and barrier-strengthening properties to the skin. It is important to discover which active ingredients can improve your skin and synergistically work with your moisturizer. Wash your face in luke-warm water and use gentle, light oil-based cleansers. Apply richer day and night creams to give your face deep nourishment and to act as a barrier to prevent the skin’s water loss.
6. Take A Bath
Winter burdens our mood just as it does our skin, with the shorter, darker, and colder days contributing to seasonal depression. A relaxing soak is a pretty good way to melt away the stresses of dreary days. With the addition of a few natural, indulging ingredients you can transform your tub into an uplifting experience. Since ancient times, people have immersed themselves in a warm bath to cleanse, refresh, rejuvenate, and heal. Warm baths can help soothe sensitive skin, promote circulation, relax our muscles so we sleep better and help relieve congestion from common colds. The following ingredients you may find in your kitchen and are simple, natural remedies. Mix and match, get creative, and vary your bathing routine. Create an oatmeal and honey bath; a honey and milk bath; a tea and salt bath; or an oatmeal and salt bath. Gently pat skin dry after a bath or shower, and follow immediately with a moisturizer.
Oatmeal
Provides soothing relief for dry skin. Either grind about 1 cup of oatmeal into a fine powder and shake it into the bathtub as it fills, or place 1 cup of oats into a muslin bag or even an old sock, and add the oat bag to the tub as it fills.
Milk
A quick and easy way to moisturize and soften skin is by adding a few cups of whole milk to a tub of warm water.
Honey
A natural humectant that helps moisturize and retain moisture, safe for irritated and sensitive skin. Ideal for dry winter skin. Add 2 – 4 T raw honey to a running bath.
Oil
Adding a moisturizing natural body oil such as olive, coconut, or sunflower can soften, smooth, and hydrate your skin. Add 2 T to your bath as it fills.
Tea
Soothing and softening botanicals could be added in a muslin bag to your bath or used as a washcloth for the driest of skin.
Salt
Mineral rich salts enhance natural healing effects of a warm bath. Add ¼ cup of epsom or sea salt (Himalayan pink, dead, Mediterranean) to tub, swirl around and soak for 20-30, rinse if desired.
7. Massage
Massage is not just beneficial for your muscles, it is a good way to moisturize and hydrate the whole body. It can improve circulation, boost your immune system, and elevate your mood. Try massaging oil into your skin right before getting into a salt bath. Salt baths can stimulate and improve circulation, soothe irritated skin conditions, balance sebum production, and promote relaxation. Combined with an oil pre-massage, your body will be cleansed, soothed, and rejuvenated. There are many hand held massagers designed for deep tissue therapy. The idea of massage is to get the blood flowing throughout the body, and to break up any tension you have been holding onto. Other easy sources of massage that your body will benefit from are rolling your feet on a sports ball (tennis, lacrosse, or golf). Facial massage tools such as stones or rollers, and wooden reflexology tools for hands and feet are all good for providing relief. Foam rollers for your back could help break up any lactic acid, and yoga stretching, which is part of Thai massage, will benefit your body and get you moving and your blood flowing. Facial massages can relieve jaw tension, scalp tightness, improves circulation, and pressure points which correspond to other parts of the body. Forehead, eyes, eyebrows, and cheekbones, side of face, jawline, neck and chest, and scalp should all be attended to in a facial massage.
8. Lip Care
During winter our lips often become more dry and flaky. Licking our lips may provide temporary relief from dryness but is an automatic response that unfortunately leaves the skin even drier. The dry winter air quickly evaporates moisture from the lip, causing excess drying and cracking. The best way to protect and heal dry, cracked lips is to use a deeply moisturizing and conditioning lip balm and apply it to your lips throughout the day. Many people sleep with their mouths open at night which causes their lips to dry out. Applying lip balm before going to sleep will help you wake up with softer, moisturized lips. A lip scrub to buff your lips gently as well as moisturize will give you smoother lips, even when they get so dry they develop little loose stringy bits of skin and feel rough.
Natural lip scrub, mask, and leave-on conditioner ingredients
Cane or brown sugars, coffee grounds, cocoa, orange peel, or cinnamon powder, yogurt, honey, puréed kiwi, strawberry, or cucumber, aloe vera, lemon juice, sunflower, grapeseed, olive, avocado, or coconut oils, and shea or cocoa butters.
9. Hands
Winter is hard on hands as well, its dry conditions can leave hands dehydrated to the point of cracking, peeling, and bleeding. Besides the lack of moisture due to dry air, we tend to wash our hands more often in winter in hopes of preventing the spread of cold and flu viruses which further depletes natural skin oils. To treat dry, parched hands you need to provide moisture to your thirsty skin. Applying a good natural moisturizer before your hands show signs of dryness is the best plan of prevention. To protect your skin after frequent hand washing, choose a mild soap, use warm, not hot water, pat your hands dry, and apply a moisturizer right away. If your hands go beyond dry and become chapped and rough or have little cracks or fissures, it is time to try a thicker and richer therapeutic cream or moisturizer. If hands are red and painful, moisturize at bedtime and slip on a pair of cotton gloves or socks while you sleep.
10. Protect Your Hair
Hair care requires a little extra attention during the cold winds and dry, hot interiors of winter if you wish to maintain a healthy shine and avoid static in colder months. One way to protect your hair is by wearing a hat. Make sure to let your scalp “breathe” to avoid sweat buildup and aggravation. Wearing a hat will protect your hair from the elements, which cause dryer hair that is prone to breakage. Wash hair in warm water 2-3 times a week during the winter and use mild shampoos to not strip protective oils, preventing excessive dryness. Let hair dry naturally and avoid applying heat with a dryer or straightener. Wet hair will add much needed moisture to the air. Do not go outside with wet hair as it is more prone to damage than dry hair, and can cause hair to freeze and break. Spritzing your hair with hydrosols can help against static on super dry days. Humidifiers also help keep your hair in good shape. Applying deep conditioners and hair masks containing rich oils and butters to wet hair before cleansing at least once a week is essential for battling winter hair. Hot oil pre-shampoos are beneficial for dry hair and scalps, and should be applied when hair is dry. Massage into hair and scalp, either soak a hand towel in water and wring out and heat in microwave for 30-50 seconds, or place towel in a brown and pour boiling water over it (just enough so it absorbs) when cool enough to handle, wring outer excess water and wrap head with it. Leave on for 20 minutes, shampoo as usual.
Easy ingredients for moisturizing and restoring pre-shampoos, deep conditioners, and hair masks
Egg, yogurt, lemon, honey, olive, argan, grapeseed, meadowfoam, and coconut oils, avocado, apple cider vinegar (best as an after-shampoo rinse), milk, and banana.
11. Use A Humidifier To Combat Dry Interiors
Flyaway hair and dry skin are caused as much by winter heating as the cold weather outside. Heat is a problem in winter – overly hot and dry interiors in winter months reduce humidity levels inside and are no friend to skin. A certain amount of moisture in the air helps skin retain its own moisture rather than have its hydration absorbed. Cool-mist humidifiers are best to provide a cool, fine, invisible mist adding humidity to the air. These are ideal in bedrooms or other rooms you spend a lot of time. Using essential oil diffusers is an effective humidifier as well, with the added bonus of aromatherapy. Keep one in each room to maximize effectiveness. If you have ever woken up on a cool winter morning feeling dehydrated, you are not alone. As the temperatures drop outside during winter nights your heat goes into overdrive pulling more and more moisture from the air, causing your mouth, nose, and skin to feel dry and parched. If you do not have a whole-house humidifier installed near your furnace, a simple alternative to add moisture back into the air and your skin is having a humidifier at your bedside. Increasing the humidity helps keep your skin and respiratory tract from drying out. Do not let the dry, cold weather and central heating cause dry, flaky, itchy skin this winter. Using simple, gentle natural skin care with a few simple changes to your regular routine can leave even winter skin feeling protected, nourished, and pampered.
12. Hydrate From The Inside
People often drink less water and have a difficult time staying hydrated in the winter because cold beverages are not appealing with freezing temperatures outside. Skin is made up of about 60% water. If your skin is not getting a sufficient amount of water, it becomes dry, tight, and flaky. Other symptoms of dehydration other than thirst that are prevalent over the winter are chapped lips, nosebleeds, dry coughs, headaches, and acne. Dry skin has less elasticity and is more prone to wrinkling. Try drinking warm water with lemon or experiment with non-caffeinated, natural herbal teas. Your body needs water to function properly to help regulate body temperature, fight off colds and viruses, removes impurities, and is essential to the function of cells, tissues, and organs. There are multiple suggestions out there for how much water you should consume each day to keep your skin cells full and well-hydrated. People may need more or less water than others depending on where they live, their diet, their health, seasonal temperatures, activity levels, and whether they are pregnant or breastfeeding. Aim to drink ½ – 1 ounce of water (coffee and tea count) per each pound you weigh, daily.
Try drinking warm water with lemon or experiment with non-caffeinated, natural herbal teas
Your body needs water to function properly to help regulate body temperature, fight off colds and viruses, removes impurities, and is essential for the function of cells, tissues, and organs.
13. SPF
The sun can still harm your skin even when it is cold outside because UV damage is not caused by heat but by the sun’s rays. Sunscreen is vital during the winter months especially in snowy, sunny conditions. The sun’s reflection on the snow can cause sunburn, which you may not feel until later. UV rays can still penetrate your skin through the clouds on overcast days as well, and even though you may feel bundled up with hats, masks, and scarfs and unexposed to the sun, it does not discriminate because of the seasonal changes. You can still get color in your cheeks from being outside; SPF is just a protective measure to help your skin from long term damage. Sunglasses should also be worn to protect your eyes and the delicate eye area. Do not neglect your sun care habits in the winter, it is also a great time to develop new, healthier habits and routines. It is important to apply SPF to your hands and lips as well! Since the face and hands are exposed to the elements more than any other part of your body, they need extra preventative care to deter dryness as well as premature aging. Not using SPF can further aggravate irritated skin, and is a form of neglect that should always be avoided. Going out early morning or late afternoon are prime times to get sunlight with lower risks of burning.
14. Diet
Cut back on your intake of alcohol, sugar, and caffeine (leave caffeine and sugar to topical applications, your skin will thank you). Alcohol is dehydrating and affects your skin negatively, especially during the winter. Taking vitamins daily such as calcium, Vitamin D, and probiotics can help better your skin during the winter. Eating foods rich in vitamins A, C, and D, essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and collagen are beneficial for promoting skin health as well. What you put in your body is just as important as what you put on it.
The following food are great to eat year round, but could be particularly useful for skin and hair during the winter
Carrots, squash, figs, citrus fruits, melons, mangoes, green vegetables, mushrooms, milk, oatmeal, fish, nuts, seeds, dark chocolate, berries, spinach, kale, beets, beans, chicken, eggs, garlic, peppers, and avocados.
15. Get Outside
Good skin care is more than about products alone. Getting out and about away from heated indoors not only benefits your mood but your skin as well. Friluftsliv (free-lofts-liv) is a Nordic way of living that means ‘free air life’ or the process of spending time outdoors and enjoying nature. Taking indoor activities outside has become a way of life this past year, and is a great way to catch up with colleagues, friends, and family while getting some much-needed fresh air. Exercising is an important part of friluftsliv, and can be more enjoyable with some winter accessories. Invest in a pair of snowshoes, shoe spikes, or walking poles which will get your arms moving as well. Do not let bad weather conditions deter you from going outside and moving around as much as possible, just make sure to dress appropriately with extra layers. Dressed for the cold, and with your skin protected and nourished, you can really do wonders for your complexion and mood, even if it is just a short, brisk walk. The capillaries will enlarge and work harder bringing oxygen with its nutrients to the outer layers of skin to bring a healthy-looking glow.
Blue Root Skin Care Products We Recommend For Winter
These products are not solely seasonal and could be used year-round. Adzuki Bean Scrub, Custom Facial and Body Oils, Lotion Bars, Whipped Body Butters, and Lip Balm. Check out our product page for each of these items, or contact us for a product that is unique to you.
If your skin cannot handle butters (causes breakouts), there are carrier oils that work best for winter skin care. that we would be happy to formulate in a custom product for you. Carrier oils that are high in long-chain and very-long-chain fatty acids are particularly protective. Polyunsaturated acids are fatty acids with 14 (long-chain) or 18 (very-long-chain) carbons or more, and can be categorized into two main families (specifically the parts that derive from plants, not animals), α-linolenic acid or linoleic acid.
These are found in our custom oils and can be further customized in a personalized winter blend depending on your skin type
Meadowfoam, olive, watermelon, tamanu, rosehip, red raspberry, sea buckthorn, sunflower, and hemp.